Entry Level Chemical Engineer Jobs in Elgin, IL (NOW HIRING)

Who is Michaels Energy?

Michaels Energy is a veteran-owned energy consulting firm that exists to help businesses minimize waste and maximize value. Our energy and engineering gurus are obsessed with optimizing buildings and processes to maximize energy savings and profits, minimize utility grid stress and carbon footprints, and keep this big, beautiful planet in tip-top shape. Our passion is developing long-term client relationships with energy users, utilities, consultants, and partners.This passion combined with our core values of proactive and responsive service, intuitive analysis, collaborative partnerships, and fanatical execution, forms the foundation of our corporate culture.

We’re proud to share that Michaels Energy is one of Inc.’s Best Workplaces of 2024 & 2025. This award is given to workplaces that foster an environment where employees willingly go above and beyond in their work, advocate for the organization, and intend to stay in the future.

We’re looking for entry-level engineers who are passionate about energy conservation AND have the technical chops to tackle energy cost-saving projects for all types of buildings. In this role, you can use that passion to help building owners, utilities, consultants and partners save energy and lower utility bills. Client and customer communication is also very important in this role.An engineer in this position will perform energy assessments on commercial and industrial buildings, recommend changes to building automation systems, perform energy calculations, and write reports.

Technical tasks include identifying energy efficiency measures, diagnosing building HVAC control issues, assessing equipment condition, estimating project costs, and performing site visits. Client and customer communication is critical in this role. Types of communication include meetings, presentations, and non-technical and technical writing. Work may also include working with data centers, verifying new construction projects, energy modeling using OpenStudio, custom rebate analysis, industrial new construction projects, developing regression models, and on-going energy consulting of individual customers through strategic energy management. We are looking for an engineer who is passionate about energy efficiency and removing barriers for the customer that will result in the implementation of projects.

• Learned company processes and procedures
• Completed at least two energy audits independently
• Completed at least one verification site visit with another engineer
• Learned program rules and processes

• Fully trained on at least one energy efficiency program
• Led customer meetings and project report outs
• Completed at least ten audits independently

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in mechanical, chemical, or building systems engineering
• Zero to six years experience combining any of the following:
  • Energy efficiency industry – e.g., utilities or performance contracting
  • HVAC operations, controls, and/or building energy investigations
  • Utility program experience in retro-commissioning, ASHRAE level 2 energy audits, or custom rebate calculations
  • Software-based building energy modeling
  • Managing building retrofit projectsDesign or implementation of HVAC Controls
  • Building codes/safety standards
  • HVAC consulting/design-build engineer
• EIT or PE (Professional Engineer) is preferred but not required
• Excels at communicating complicated ideas to a variety of audiences
• Skilled at interfacing with contractors and building owners
• Deep interest in energy, systems, and process efficiency, and improving productivity
• Lifetime self-learner
• Ability to travel up to 30% regionally

• Chicago, Denver, Boston, or central Virginia
• You will have the option to work in the office, work from home, or hybrid.

$80,000 to $88,000 annually

• Sit, stand, and walk moderate distances.
• Frequently lift or move objects up to 10 pounds.
• Occasionally lift or move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Occasionally crawl on the floor and climb ladders.

• The top reasons Michaels Energy is an awesome place to work, besides helping the world save energy.
• We Never Stop Learning
• Flexible Work Hours
• Collaborative
• Career Development
• Beer Fridays
• Fresh Fruit Daily
• Wellness Rewards
• Fun Company Outings

We strive to build and nurture a culture that is inclusive and welcoming for all employees. We know diversity and inclusion are essential to innovation, a strong work environment and exceptional results. This fits in well with our culture that celebrates the unique, the different, and the individual. For us, this is who are and what we do, not just words in a policy.